Cat Power a.ka. Indie-Rock goddess Chan Marshall's new album is not a best-of or hits compilation, although the title would make it seem as such. Actually, The Greatest is Marshall's follow up to 2003's amazing breakthrough You Are Free which saw guest spots from Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl, two very big admirers of her work.

The Greatest actually finds Marshall seeking out two people she greatly admires. Marshall went to Memphis to record with Al Green's Hi Records rhythm section, Teenie and Leroy Hodges on guitar and bass respectively. What has transpired is an album full of soul, strings, and horns that should obviously draw comparisons to Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis sessions.

The Greatest starts off with the beautiful self-titled track, Marshall on Piano and accompanied by a romantic string arrangement. After that comes "Living Proof," a soulful burner that lays the horns and organ (a Hi Records staple) on thick. The next two tracks, "Lived In Bars" and "Could We" also sticks to that reliable formula.

I think what surprised me the most about The Greatest is that Marshall also tries her hand at country, and does surprisingly well with it. "Empty Shell" and "Islands" definitely have more in common with Nashville than they do Memphis.

By far my favorite song though has to be "Where Is My Love," another of those beautiful piano and string-laden tracks that will have lovers swooning by the moonlight. If that track doesn't melt your heart instantly, then you didn't have one to begin with. Ring another one up for Cat Power; The Greatest is yet another solid album from an artist from whom we've come to expect nothing less.